Parent surveys favor shorter school week

The Florence-Penrose School Board listened to the results from parent surveys sent home about the board's potential decision to move to a four-day school week. (Sarah Matott / Daily Record)

FLORENCE - The majority of survey results from parents and students in the Florence-Penrose School District show that a switch to a four-day school week is wanted.

On Monday, the Florence-Penrose school board held a workshop at the T&I Building, 403 W. Fifth St., to hear presentations from the district's principal on parent survey results, regarding the district's possible change to a shorter school week.

The surveys were sent home March 23 after multiple public meetings were conducted to answer any questions or address concerns parents of students in the Florence-Penrose School District may have.

Surveys from each school showed well over half of the families were for the four-day school week.

Florence High School principal, Brian Schipper, said 86 percent of parents who completed the survey were in favor of the shorter school week.

"The cons I've heard is the longer days and looking for child care, which is a very valid concern," Schipper said.

Each principal in their own presentations said the need for child care on that fifth day was the largest concern, as well as loosing instructional time in the classroom.

School board member Greg Dickey, however, said that although he understands the issue of finding daycare, he asked what some of these parents do with their kids during summertime or other breaks.

"It's not an excuse but they obviously find something to do during those times," Dickey said.

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However, Rhonda Roberts, superintendent for the district, said the Boys and Girls Club of Fremont County has already discussed on their own expanding their program in Florence and in Penrose.

At the school board meeting, which was also Monday, a block of time was set aside for parents to voice their concerns to the board.

The only present parent to do so, Aubrey Stone, said her concern was the lost day in school would do her son harm.

Michelle Lesser, principal of Penrose Elementary, gave a presentation of parent survey results regarding the Florence-Penrose School District looking at moving to a four-day school week. (Sarah Matott / Daily Record)

"I know my son would struggle with spelling words, he's a slow learner," she said, adding that she hopes the board considers the kids like her son who might struggle with this change when making their decision.

Other results form the parent surveys showed that many parents and students, however, felt the change would be positive by allowing more family time with their kids, time for older students to work a part-time job, and more time for chores.

Parent surveys also showed that they would use that extra day off as a day to schedule doctor's appointments or take family trips.

As far as loss of instructional time, each principal assured the school board that switching to the four-day school week would not mean a loss for students' education.

Jan Draper, principal of Florence Elementary School, and Michelle Lesser, principal of Penrose Elementary, each said the shorter week would actually give them more time to focus on social studies and science.

"Social studies and science would be built into the schedule everyday," Draper said, explaining that as the schedule stands now, those subjects are only taught twice a week.

Draper also said the change would also allow for more recess throughout the day and a longer lunch period.

Schipper also said that the longer days would greatly improve the instructional time at the high school level.

"We would gain 10 minutes per classroom, which may not seem like a lot, but if you've been in a classroom you realize 10 minutes is a lot and a lot can happen in that time," he said.

The school board decided at the end of the workshop that more information from the food services department and transportation department should also be gathered before the board makes a decision.

"I think we are at a point where a decision needs to be made," said Andy Franklin, school board vice president, clarifying that it wouldn't be until the next school board meeting.

To discuss the change further, the board has set up a time to meet again at 5 p.m. on April 18 at the T&I Building.

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